Special Representative visits operation area

Special Representative for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) Legwaila Joseph Legwaila toured the western sector of UNMEE’s area of operations on Tuesday. Legwaila was briefed by UN peacekeepers and local authorities in Barentu, Om Hajer, Humera (western Eritrea) and Badme (on the disputed border) on “military and humanitarian priorities”, an UNMEE statement said on 4 April. There are approximately 900 Jordanian peacekeepers and 90 military observers currently deployed in the western sector, which was the scene of heavy fighting during the recent border conflict. Legwaila, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), was accompanied by UNMEE Force Commander Maj-Gen Patrick Cammaert and other senior UNMEE and UN officials. UNMEE personnel reported that they were engaged in a de-mining operation in the area, and that a western sector mobility study was under way. At a luncheon hosted by senior local administrators in the Humera region, Legwaila said he hoped “people on both sides of the [Humera] river would soon be able to cross the Humera bridge that connects the two countries and resume normal relations as neighbours”, UNMEE said.